Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus help over 20 million people live meaningful lives with less through their website, books, podcast, and documentary. The Minimalists have been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, Forbes, TIME, ABC, CBS, NBC, BBC, CBC, and NPR.

What the Hell Are You Talking About?

We usually posit this question when we’re confused, as in “I don’t know what you’re talking about! Please explain.”

But what if we thought about that question in a different way? What if we thought about it literally, as in “What things am I talking about?”

For example, Are the things I’m talking about making a difference? Are the things I’m talking about contributing to others in a meaningful way? Are the things I’m talking about allowing me to grow as a human being?

Or, are the things I’m talking about fueling the fire? Am I spreading rumors and gossip and adding no value to the overall conversation? Am I part of the disease or the cure, the problem or the solution?

If it’s the latter, then we need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves, “What are you talking about?” You see, it’s okay to be wrong—we are human after all—but it’s not okay to be wrong about the same thing over and over again.

And when we’re done talking, we must to take action, for action is far more important than talk.